IoT-Enabled Smart Solar Energy Management System for Enhancing Smart Grid Power Quality and Reliability

Voltage fluctuations and power grid instability are caused by the growing use of distributed renewable energy sources (RESs) like solar energy. The efficient monitoring and management of solar energy produced by solar panels can improve the quality and reliability of grid power for the smart grid (SG) environment. Additionally, we build solar power plants in remote locations that people cannot regularly access, so this method will enable them to virtually control their systems from those locations. In this regard, this paper suggests an Internet of things (IoT)-based smart solar energy management system (SEMS) to enable users to remotely monitor solar or PV (photovoltaic) panel systems via their smartphones from any location in the world. In this system, data collected from the panels is transmitted via the Internet to the Android apps for later use. The user can obtain data on the solar panel’s temperature as well as the current and previous average values for parameters such as ampere, voltage, power, and energy. Remote users can also manage the solar panel’s loads. Operators of on-grid and off-grid solar systems can enhance the quality and reliability of their power by using these data. This system can function as a smart meter (SM) in a smart grid environment. Future smart grids with significant solar energy penetration may find this system to be effective. A hardware prototype has been developed to validate the system’s operation. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.